The Greek adjective anapologētos (G379) means "without a defense" or "inexcusable." It appears twice in the New Testament: Romans 1:20 (those who suppress the truth about God are "without excuse") and Romans 2:1 (those who judge others while doing the same things are "inexcusable").
The word combines an- (without) + apologia (defense/excuse) — literally "having no defense available."
Paul's deployment of anapologētos in Romans 1-2 builds a systematic case that all of humanity — Gentile and Jew alike — stands before God without excuse. The Gentiles are anapologētos because God's invisible qualities are clearly displayed in creation (Romans 1:20). The self-righteous are anapologētos because they condemn in others what they themselves practice (Romans 2:1).
This universal inexcusability is the theological ground for the universal need of the gospel: "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). The good news of Romans builds on this devastating foundation — precisely because all are anapologētos before God's justice, the grace of justification by faith is the only hope for any person.